Janet Geib Pretti, Sculptortag:typepad.com,2003:weblog-5456892017-04-14T08:40:07-07:00Sculpture and Commentary on Life and ArtTypePadBack to the Basement (and Sculpture)tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d8341cb7cf53ef01bb098e26d2970d2017-04-14T08:40:07-07:002017-04-14T08:44:31-07:00In 2015, I began to transition to a planned retirement in 2017. I had not started a new sculpture in over six years. My life had been overtaken by my day job after I was promoted to the Curry Campus...Janet Pretti

In 2015, I began to transition to a planned retirement in 2017. I had not started a new sculpture in over six years. My life had been overtaken by my day job after I was promoted to the Curry Campus Dean just as the dream of building a campus had a chance of becoming a reality. There was money to raise, a building to design and build, and programs to run. There was no time to think about, let alone make art.

I am always plagued with worry when I dive back into sculpture after a life-imposed time away. Would my well have gone dry from neglect? Would I be able to pick back up where I left off?

First, I reclaimed my basement workroom, then I fussed and puttered over the words to avoid it. But eventually I went down the stairs, pulled out my wax bin and tentatively began to apply wax to wire armatures. Only five new pieces are in the show announced below. But it feels so good to be working again. When the time came for the show, three pieces were left behind unfinished, insuring that I have a place to begin when my official retirement begins.

Russell Childers Showtag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d8341cb7cf53ef01b7c8950804970b2016-09-19T21:21:47-07:002016-09-19T21:21:47-07:00Russell Childers: Oregon Outsider is currently on display at the Hallie Ford Museum in Salem, Oregon. Jonathan Bucci will be giving a free lecture on Russell Childers September 25, 2016 at 3 p.m., at the Roger Hull Lecture Hall, Willamette...Janet Pretti

Russell Childers: Oregon Outsider is currently on display at the Hallie Ford Museum in Salem, Oregon. Jonathan Bucci will be giving a free lecture on Russell Childers September 25, 2016 at 3 p.m., at the Roger Hull Lecture Hall, Willamette University, Salem, Oregon. The show will close October 23, it is worth making time to see. There is also and exhibition catalog of the show available for $17.95.

I cannot express how much knowing Childers' story and his work has meant to me over the years. Childers died in 1998 and I have longed to know where life took him and see the work he created after the 1977 show. The current show is terrific. But there are still missing pieces. Jonathan Bucci (and I) are excited that the show is bringing attention to this forgotten artist and more people are contacting him with information and recollections. Go see the show and if you have a missing piece of Russell Childers' story, please share it so he will never forgotten again.